jenkietson



Nov. 29,; 1927.

E. L. JENKINSON GASOLINE FxLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l I Novv 29, 1927.

E. L. JENKINSON GASOLINE FILLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24,. 1925 Nov. 29, 1927.

1,650,837 E. L.. JENKINSON GASOLINE FILLING APPARATUS Filed sept. 24, '1925 s sheets-sheet 5 Q5- Ji\ 563g "E:

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Patented Nov. 29, i927.

UNITED STATES ELLIS Ii. JENKINSON, QF SAN J OSE, CALIFORNIA.

GASLIE FLJING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 24, 1923. Serial No. 664,389.

This invention relates to filling apparatus and while leatures oi the invention may be employed in connection with filling appara tus lor use with liquids oi any kind, the invention is especially adapted for use in gasoline filling stations. A type of filling` apparatus is now in use in such stations which includes an elevated graduated reservoir o't` glass in which the automobile driver may see the gasoline; the tank in theautomobile is iilled 'from this reservoir so that the purchaser olt the gasoline can observe the change of level in the elevated reservoir.

rThis type ot filling apparatus has become very popular. After the gasoline. has been dispensed through a hose irom the reservoir, the reservoir is reiilled from a sub-tank. Apparatus has been employed in which the flow of gasoline into the reservoir is shut ollfautomatically when the reservoir is lilled, by means ot a float in the reservoir. An olojection to the use of such a float arises from the 'fact that the action of the float is not suilicicntly positive and reliable. rThe general object of this invention is to provide a filling apparatus having an elevated reservoir, and provided with automatic means for effecting the refilling of the reservoir after the gasoline has been withdrawn from it to till the tank of an automobile; and to provide reliable means for automatically elosing` oil? the flow ot the gasoline into the reservoir when the same is full; also to provide the automatic mechanism with hand-actuated means for controlling the apparatus at will.

A -Further object o't the invention is to provide special means for preventing leakage ci gasoline from the apparatus.

vln the use ot apparatus of this kind, where the reservoir is drained rapidly in succession, it sometimes happens that the sub-tank does not lill with suilicient rapidity to keep the reservoir supplied with gasoline.

(lne oi the objects ot my invention is to overcome this di'liiculty and provide means ilor insuring that the gasoline will ilow rapidly from the main tank into the sub-tank.

'Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an eiiicient gasoline lling apparatus.

A preferred embodiment ot the invention is described in the following specification Figure 8.

while the broad scope l the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing l I Figure l is a side elevation ol a gasoline lilhng apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the apparatus shown in Figure 1, but showing the gasoline hose broken away, and portions of they hose and nozzle in elevation.

Fig.V 3 is .a side elevation upon au enlarged scale showing the mechanism oi the appa ratus which controls the flow yot Agasoline, certain parts being broken away. l t Fig. e is an elevation oi the parts shown in Figure 3, lout viewed from the lett end.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, but upon an`enlarged scale, portions of the pipe being broken away and partially sho-wn in` elevation.

Fig. 6 `is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; this ligure and Figure 5 particularly illustrate the pneumatic means for controlling the 'flow of air to and from the sub-tank for iilling the reservoir, and also the means for ccnl trolling the pneumatic mechanism,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken about on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the apparatus in another position.

Fig. 9 is airelevation in partial section broken away and showing parts otl the apparatus of Figure 8 as though viewed onya section taken about on the line 9-9 of Figure 8. L

Fig. 10 is a similar view to Figure 9, but taken substantially on the line flO-l() of Fig. 11 is a plan or top edge view ot the weighted lever which I prefer to employ, and which is a detail ot the apparatus.

Fig.V l2 is a side .elevation and partial section showing the general arrangement ot' the apparatus with the main tank, sub-tank and elevated reservoir, and showing the" pipe connections. I

13 is a vertical. section and partial elevation showing the details ot a check valve which I employ between the main tank and the sub-tank.

The apparatus includes an elevated reservoir 1 which is preferably formed of glass and provided with a graduated scale 2 having its zero mark at an elevated point and the level which the gasoline llas in the reser-V Voir when the apparatus is in use Vand ready to iill the tank ot an automobile. This reservoir 1 is supported upon a suitable column vor pedestal 3. The tank of the car is iilled by means ot a hose 4 which is in communication with the bottom end of the reservoir and provided with a nozzle 5 having a valve normally closed and controlled by a valve lever 6. When the hose is not in use, it is held supported on a movable member of the automatic apparatus, and I utilize the movements or' this member when the hose .is hung upon it or removed from it, to effect control ot the automatic apparatus,.. and thereby ettectthe relilling ot the reservoir.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of my automatic apparatus, reference is had to Figure 12, which shows the general arrangement ot apparatus which is usually employed. This apparatus includes a main gasoline tank 7 which is placed below the ground' line, and the lower portion ot this tank is in communication through a pipe 8 with a sub-tank 9'. rI`he sub-tank 9 is kept full of gasoline trom the main tank 7 and by means ot compressed air admitted to he sub-tank above the gasoline level, gasoline from the sub-tank is lforced up into the reservoir 1 through a lilling pipe 9u. lWhen the tank ot a car is te be lilled. the hose 41 is taken from a hook 10 pivot-ally supported at 11, and the nozzle 5 is then placed so as to direct the gasoline into the automobile tank. The lever 6 is then operated to open the valve of the nozzle 5. After filling the tank of the car, the hose is hung up, that is to say, the nozzle 5 is hung-on the hook, as illustrated.

Figure 3 represents the apparatus in the relation which it has immediately after gasoline has been supplied to a car and the nozzle hung upon the hook. v'llhe hanging et the nozzle upon the hook controls means including an air reservoir, and automatic mechanism within a casing 12, which automatically etfects the admission of 'compressed air from the reservoir to the vsubtank 9, and thereby forces gasoline trom the sub-tank up into the .reservoir 1. As soon as the reservoir is tilled,=the automatic mechanism is tripped automatically, shuts ott the tiow ot the gasoline, and then opens up communication to the atn'iosphere from the upper end ot the sub-tank. This venting of the sub-tank is, ot course, necessary to establish atmospheric pressure in the sub-tank,l thus allowing it to relill from the main tank; also to prevent dangerous accumulation ot gasoline vapors.

The hook 10 constitutes a lever, the inner end ot which projects into the casing of the pedestal 3, in which the automatic mechanism is housed. When the nozzle is hung on the heck 10, its weight will depress the outer nesoee? end ot the hook and the inner end will be raised. This movement o1E the hook opens an air valve 13 which admits compressed air flowing from an a-ir reservoir 14 through an air supply pipe 15, so that this air flows downwardly through an air chest- 16 within the casing and passes through an air pipe 17 down into the upper end et the sub-tank 9 above the gasoline level. lNithin the casing 12, I provide an air vent valve 18, which is closed when the valve 13 is open, but is open when the valve 13 is closed so that when the apparatus is at rest, the upper end ot the sub-tank is vented to the atmosphere through a vent pipe 19 which con'nnnnicates with the air chest 16 through the opening controlled by the vent valve 13.

These valves are automatically controlled by the hook and also through the agency of the overtlow trom'the reservoir when it has become filled from the sub-tank. In order to accomplish this, I provide a rock-shaftI 2O 4carrying a rigid rock lever or cross-head 21,

one end ot which engages the stem 22 oit the air valve 13, and the other end oit which engages an operating stem 23 guided in the casing, the upper end of the stem 23 having a cross-head 24, which carries the stem 25 ol the air vent valve. A coil spring 2G is pockctcd in a bonnet 27 over the vent valve and Vtl'nusts down against the cross head 2/1, and hence the torce oit.. this spring exerts itselit in a direction to hold there valves in the position shown in Figure 5. A similar spring i provided 'tor valve 13.

I provide means for normally holding the valves in the opposite position from that. shown in Figure 5, and for this purpose, I employ a weighted lever 28 which is in the iorm ot a plate rigidly attached to the rock shaft 20. Trip mechanism is provided to connect the hooklever 1() with the plate or weighted lever 28 so that when the nozzle 5 is placed on the hook 10, the vl'eight ot the nozzle raises the weighted lever 28 and thereby placesthe valves 13 and 18 in the position shown in Figure 5. In order to accomplish this, the inner end of the hook lever is connected to a slide 29 guided on the outer tace o't' the casing 12, andv the lower end oi" this slide is provided with a pivoted dog 30, which has a'tooth 31, which engages under a substantially triangular lug 32 on the inner 'tace or.' the plate 28. Bv engaging with this lug 32, the plate 23 will be raised into an elevated position in which it is indicated in Figure 3, and this will rock the rock shatft 20 and bringit into the position shown in Figure 5. The trip mechanism may have any suitable construction which will operate through the agency ot t-he overilow from the reservoir, to trip the dog and permit the weighted lever 28 to tall back to its nor nal depressed or horizontal position', In order to accomplish this, I provUl fil)

vide the slide Q9 with a latch 33, which has a tail 34 beyond its pivot and which has a notch 35 tor enkgaginpI the upper end oit the doe` 53() to hold the dog 30 lined with respect to the slide. 'lhe slide 2l) is connected to the lever l0 by a suitable linlr 36.

,l shall now describe the means for tripping the latch 33 when the reservoir has become tilled. l provide the reservoir with an overflow pipe 37, the upper end ot which is at a level with the Zero mark ot the scale 2. ylhe upper section ot this pipe extends downwardly and is attached to the upper side ot the casingl l2, see Figure 5, so that the gasoline passing down this overflow pipe passes through the casing. The under side olf the asinfg is connected to the lower sec tion 38 ol the overflow pipe which leads the overllow gasoline back to the main tank 7. l provide means tor tripping the latch 38'; this means is located in the path of the overflow gasoline and is actuated by the impact ot the gasoline as it descends by gravity in the overtlow pipe. 'lhis means is in the Ytoi-m ot a member such as a sputter plate 39 which extends across the opening 40 in the casing;l which connects the two sections ot the overflow pipe. This spatter plate 39 is secured rigidly to a. rock shaft 4l, one end ot which extends out through the front wall or cover olf the easing and carries a tripping pawl 42, see Figure 8, having a cam edge 43, which lies just above the tail 34 otl the latch 33, see Figure 3. Vlfhis pawl 42 has a counter-weight 44 which normally holds the pawl in the position shown in F igure 3, in which position the spatter plate 39 projects horizontally across the passage 40.

lV hen the reservoir l is :tulhthe gasoline con'miences to overflow through the upper end ot the overflow pipe 37, and gasoline then tails down the overliow pipe and strikes the plate which rocks 4the rock shatt 41 in a lc'lft hand direction. By this movement, the vcam edge 43 raises the latch 33 and releases the dog" 30y whereupon the dog 30 un der the action ol the weight of lever 28, swings away trom the 1115.*82 and permits the weighted lever 28 to 'tall into the position shown in Figure 8. rlhis closes the air valve lf3, and. prevents further 'flow ot compressed air lo the sulrtaul. This movement also opens the vent valve 18.

lWhen the nozzle 5 is taken oll" the hook l() to till the tanlt in an automobile, the weight ot the slide pulls the `inner end ot the lever l() down. As this occurs, an inclined under tace 31a et the tooth 3l ot the dog' 30 comes in Contact with a correspondingly inclined upper tace on the lug 32, see Figure 3, and this swings the lower end of the slide 29 toward the right. In this connection it should be understood that the slide 29 is not guided at its lower end, but only near its upper end by a small yoke or bracket 45. lin

this way the slide 29 will swing sul'liciently to permit the tooth 3l to engage under the lower tace ot the lug 32, and this sets the mechanism in its-proper relation so Athat when the nozzle 5 i.` replaced on the hook, the tripping mechanism including` the slide 2S) and its associated parts, will raise the weighted lever 29 to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The ilorce exerted by the gasoline spattering down the overflow pipe 37 is, ot' course, comparatively slight and tor this reason, it is not advisable to employ a regular stuliing box with packing to prevent gasoline from passingl out through the bearing opening 46, see F igure 6, through which the shat't 4l passes outwardly. ln order to prevent gasoline trom escaping; at this point, thereby inturingY the safety oli the apparatus, l provide a simple bushing; 47 at this point, and ll provide a web or bathe 48 in the 4wall oi the casing, which projects across the inner end ol the lmshingr, and a'slight distance from it. On the sba'tt at thispoint, I provide a collar 49 which is received in a small chamber 50 which is Ytorn'ied between the baille plate 48 and the inner end ot the bushing'. The outer tace ot the collar 49 lies substantially against the inner tace of' the bushing and tends to prevent any gasoline trom working` its way out along the shalt. I provide a small drain opening` 5l leading trom this small Chamb-,r back into the overflow pipe. In this way, l prevent gasoline passingr out at this point, atthe same time providing a construction which permits a very tree rotation of the rock shaft 4l. When the bushing- 47 becomes worn, it can be replaced.

by another bushing which tits the shatt closely. I

In the operation of apparatus otthis'kind, itinay happen that the reservoir l may be lilled and emptied so rapidly that the subtank 9 will not lill tast enough to' keep the reservoir supplied. ln this connection it should be understood that it is necessary to provide a check valve between the sub-tank and the main tank to prevent a back tlow into the main tank when the compressed air admitted to the sub-tank. Son'ietimes such a check valve offers a considera-ble resistance to opening, and when the level ot gasoline 4in the main tanl; is low..the `gasoline flows verv slowly through the pipe 8 to the subtanl. I provide means tor overcoming this difficulty, and tor this purpose l provide a check. valve of special construction which is adapted to open without oltering any 'substantial resistance. This effect may be ac'- complished in a simple way by providing a check valve in the torni oli' a disc 52 which is normally suspended in a vertical position from a pivot pin 53. It desired, this check valve may be placed in an elbow 54 in the pipe 8,',see Figure l3,- 'lihis disc cornes upon voperation of hanging the nozzle on the hook 10, he would not be able to prevent the fioW of gasoline and it would continue to flow until the reservoir became lled.

In order to provide this hand-control, I proviee a small lever 56, With adjusting stop 56a, which may have its fulcrum on the pivot bolt Il of the hook 10, and the inner lend of' this lever is connected by a link 57 with a small slide 58 `which slides along one edge ot the plate or slide 29. The loiver end of this releasing slide 58 has a notch 59 in which the nose of the latch 33 has free play. However, it the outer end of the lever 56 is depressed, the shoulder 60 which forms the lower end of this notch 59 Will engage the lett end of the latch 33 and lift the latch so as to permit the, dog 3() to swing on its pivot and release the lug 32 of the plate lever 28.

I shall noW describe the general mode of operation of the apparatus. In the normal condition the reservoir l stands 'full of gasoline With the level of the gasoline at the zero mark of the scale 2. In order to fill the tankof the car the operator uses the hose in the regular Wav keeping the valve lever 6 in the closed position until the nozzle is in the filling opening of the tank. As the gasoline runs into the tank, the operator o'f the` apparatus Watches the level ot the gasoline in the reservoir l and shuts off` the How of gasoline at the gallon mark on the scale^2 which Will give the purchaser the amount of gasoline he requires.

Before the operator hangs the nozzle 5 on the hook, the outer end ot' the hook lever is elevated. The tripping mechanism is then iu the relation indicated in Figure 8 and as the slider29 rises, it pulls up the lug 32 which raises the Weighted lever 28 from the position in ivliichit is shown in Figure 8 to the position indicated in Figures 2 and 3. This movement opensthe air valve 13 and closes the vent valve Iiftherehy permitting iiovv ot' compressed air through the pipe l5 from the airsupply 14 and past the valve 13, through the air chest 16 and down the air pipe 17 to the sub-tank. The pressure of the air in the sub-tank produces a rapid flow ot gasoline through the pipe and fills the reservoir 1. As soon as the reservoir is full to the' zero mark of. the scale 2,

the gasoline connnences to overfloiv through the overflow pipe 37 and the gasoline falling down this pipe strikes the spatter plate 39. This produces a lett hand rotation of the shaft 4l and through the agency of the cam edge 4-3 operating upon thetail 34, raises the latch 83 and releases the paWl 30. The paivl then swings to the right and releases the lug 32, permitting the Weighted lever 28 to descend to its depressed or horizontal position. The gasoline which splashes oli the plate 39 is prevented from passing through the bearing opening 46, see Figure 6, by means .of the baffle Wall 51.8, the collar 49, and the drain passage 5l Which drains off the gasoline collecting in the chamber at this point and returns itinto the overflow pipe. y

The check valve 52, see Figures 12 and i3, operates to open without any considerable resistance and therefore permits quick refilling of the sub-tank 9 from the main tank 7.

It is understood that the eu'ibodiment ot the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take and I do not Wish to be limited in JVhe practice of my invention nor in my clai is to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is:

l. In a gasoline filling apparatus, the combination of an elevated reservoir, a hoi-1e leading therefrom for dispensing gasoline from Athe reservoir, a hook for supporting the hose when not in use, means controlled by the hook for effecting the refilling of the reservoir, an over-How pipe from the reservoir, means actuated by the impact of the gasoline in passing down the over-How pipe by gravity, and means actuated by the last nan'ied means for effecting the shutting off of the How ofgasoline to the reservoir.

2. In a gasoline filling apparatus, the combination of an elevated reservoir, a hose leading therefrom for dispensing the gasoline 'from 'the reservoir, a. movable hook for supporting the hose when not in use, pneumatic means controlled by the hook for causing a flow of gasoline to the reservoir to refill ther same, an over-How pipe from the reservoir, means actuated by the in'ipact o'f the gasoline in passing dow-n the over-flow pipe by gravity, and means actuated by the last named means to effect the shutting' oill ot' the flovi7 oitl gasoline tothe reservoir. Y

8. In agasoline filling apparatus, the combination of an elevated reserifoir, a hose leading therefrom for dispensing gasoline trom the reservoir, a hook for supporting the hose when not in use, means controlled by the hook for effecting the refilling of the reservoir, an over-flow pipe trom the res-` lll) l liow ot gasoline to the reservoir.

lill the same, an over-tiony pipe from the4 reservoir, means actuated by the impact oli the gasoline in passing down tlieover-iloiv pipe by gravity, n'ieans actuated by the la't named nieans 'lor actuating'the pueum: moans to shut oil the i'iow' to the re voir1 and a hand actuated member for shutting oil` the ilow oit gasoline at will.

5` ,ln a gasoline lilling apparatus, the conn bination oit an elevated reservoir, a hose leading thereiron'i it'or dispensing the gasoline from the reservoir, a movable hook tor supporting the hose when not in use, a sub-t: il; havingl a lilling pipe leading to the reservoir, igieneuinatie means including an air-valve for admitting compressed air to the sub-tank,

. and a vent valve tor opening communication trom the sub-tank to the atn'iospliere, means tor coiitrolliug said valves through the agency ot the hook to cause a lloiv of gasoline to the reservoir to reiill the same when the hose supported on the hook, an overeiictv pipe :trom the reservoir, means actuated by the impact oil' the gasoline in passing down the over-iioiv pipe by gravity, and means actuated by the last named means to close the air-valve and open the vent valve.

G. in a gasoline iilling apparatus, the combination of an elevated reservoir, a hose leading therefrom for dispensing the gasoline from the reservoir, a movable hook for siiipporting Athe hose when not in use, a subtanlr with a filling pipe leading therefrom to the reservoir, pneumatic means including an air-valve for admitting compressed air to the sub-tank to cause a flow ol gasoline through the filling pipe to the reservoir, and a vent valve tor shutting oli communication to the atmosphere while the reservoir is iilling and :tor opening communie: tion troni the atmosphere to the sub-tank a'iter the reservoir is lilled, a 'weighted .lever with means ior closing the air-valve and opening the air vent, a trip device for connecting the movable hook with the Weighted lever to open the air-valve and close the vent valve when the hose is hung upon the hook, an overdlow pipe from the reservoir, means actuated. by the impact of the gasoline flowing down through the over-How pipe, and means actuated by the last named means to actuate the trip device and thereby release the weighted lever and eiect the closing ot the air-valve and the opening ot the air vent valve.

7 In a gasoline filling apparatus, the combination of an elevated reservoir, a hose leadingl therefroin'lior dispensing the gasoline from the reservoir, a movable hooi; for supporting-'the hose when not in use, a subtanl; with a filling pipe leading therefrom to the reservoir, pneumatic means including an air-valve for admitting compressed air to the sub-tank to cause a flow of gasoline through the lilling pipe to the reservoir., and a vent valve for shutting oilcomn'iunication to the atmosphere While the reservoir is filling and for opening communication trom the atmosphere to the sub-tank after the reservoir is lilled, a Weighted lever having means for closing the air-valve and opening the vent valve, a slide connected with the hooi; so as to be controlled thereby, a dog on the slide ior engaging the weighted lever to raise the same to open the air valve and close the vent valve when the hose is hung upon the hook, an ove1'l^lo\v pipe from the reservoir, and mean-s controlled by the flow of gasoline through the over-iiow pipe to trip the dog` and release the weighted lever, thereby permitting` the weighted lever to close the air valve and open the vent valve.

8. In a gasoline lilling apparatus, the coinbination ot' an elevated reservoir, a hose leading therefrom for dispensing the gasoline from the reservoir, a movable hoolrl tor supporting the hose when not in use, a subtank With a filling pipe leading therefrom to the reservoir, pneumatic means including an air-valve for admitting compres-sed air to the sub-tank to cause a 'flow ot gasom line through the filling pipe to the reservoir, a vent valve for shutting oft communication to the atmosphere While the reservoir is iilling and for opening communication from the atmosphere to the sub-tanlr after the reservoir is filled, a Weighted lever having means for closing the air-valve and opening the vent valve, a slide connected with the hoolr so as to be controlled there by, a pivoted dog on the slide tor engaging the Weighted lever to rai-se the same when the hose is hung upon the hook and thereby open the air valve and close the vent valve, a latch mounted on the slide tor latehiug the dog in a lixed position to enable it to raise the weighted lever, an over-:flow pipe irom the reservoir, and means controlled by the flow of gasoline through the over-flow pipe to actuate the latch and thereby effect the release ot the Weighted lever, said Weighted lever operating to close the air valve and open the vent valve.

9. In a gasoline lilling` apparatus, the combination of an elevated reservoir, controlling means for controlling the flow ot gasoline to the reservoir, an over-iloiv pipe leading from the reservoir, and having a casing, a shaft, said casing having a bearing openlill) ing through which the shaft passes, a spatter plate in the casing lmounted on .the shaft, means actuated by the spatterplate shaft for actuating the controlling means, a baf- [le Wall projecting across the casing adjacent the said bearing opening and having a chamber behind it and adjacent the bearing opening, to catch gasoline splashed out along the shaft toward the opening, said casing having a drain passage leading from the chamber back into the over-flow pipe and gasoline being forced bythe splashing along the shaft to the exterior of the casing.

l0. In gasoline apparatus, the combination of a Casing into which gasoline splashes, a shaft, said casing having a bearing opening in its wall for the shaft, said shaft having a collar on its inner portion covering the inner end of the bearing opening and guarding it from the splash, said Casing having a chamber located at said collar 1n Which the gasoline may accumulate and a drain passage leadingfrom said chamber back into the interior of the casing.

1l. In a gasoline filling apparatus, the combination of an over-flow pipe Wit-h a casing, valves, means controlled thereby for controlling the flow of gasoline, a spatter plate in the over-flow pipe having a shaft rotatably mounted in the Wall of the easing, automatic means controlled by the spatter plate for controlling the valves, a cha1nber Within the easing adjacentthe shaft of the spatter plate for catching the gasoline that splashes out along the shaft toward the exterior of the easing, said chamber having a drain passage for leading` the gasoline back into the over-flow pip-e.

Signed at Los Angeles, California this 14th day of September, 1923.

ELLIS L. JENKINSON. 

